Poll

Courts/Crime

WELD COUNTY — Weld County continued to buck statewide trends as it posted its second straight year of declining crime statistics, while the state as a whole moved ever-so-slightly in the opposite direction.

Places such as Fort Lupton and the Tri-Towns continued to show a decline for the second straight year in regard to the most common crimes, like assault, robbery, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft, according to statistics released last month by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Greeley — Justin O’Donnell, 24, pleaded guilty Friday, July 25, in Weld County District Court to accessory to a crime — a Class 4 felony — in connection with the deaths of Sheri Pachello and Alisha Johns.

GREELEY — A Weld County jury on Friday, June 27, convicted the man accused of attacking a developmentally disabled girl near a ditch in Firestone 12 years ago.

Cecilio Chavez, 62, was found guilty of sexual assault on an at-risk juvenile with force, which is a Class 2 felony. Chavez originally was convicted in this case in 2003 and sentenced to an indeterminate sentenced of 24 years to life in prison in 2004.

FREDERICK — A local woman and her mother were found dead last week, and the man suspected of abducting and killing them was found dead Friday night, Feb. 7, after a standoff with police in Thornton.

Cimmeron Johns, 37, was spotted by Thornton police Feb. 7 after the discovery of two bodies in Weld County. Law enforcement agents tracked him to an apartment in the Bravado Viewpoint complex on the 10200 block of Ura Lane in Thornton.

FREDERICK — Frederick police arrested two men and detained a teenager on suspicion of stealing metal from Glacier Business Park.

Isaac Mario Santana, 21, and Victor James Bustamante, 23, both of Lakewood, were arrested and are set to be charged with second-degree burglary, theft and second-degree trespass. A 16-year-old male also was detained and also will face charges.

GREELEY — A 61-year-old Fort Lupton man faces five formal charges for his part in a crash near Fort Lupton this summer.

Dana Beales’ next court appearance is at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 17. The Weld County District Attorney’s Office charged him with vehicular homicide, third-degree assault of a first responder, two counts of reckless endangerment and reckless driving.

Prosecutors believe there could be a disposition of this case at the December appearance.

Frederick police are investigating the Oct. 28 shooting death of a 3-year-old at a residence in town. An autopsy was completed today by the Weld County Coroner's Office, which found that the cause of death was due to an accidental gunshot wound to the head.
In a release to media, Frederick Police Chief Gary Barbour identified the victim as Sheine Steine, the mother's name is Dione Warren and the step-father's name is Jeremy McCollem.

GREELEY — Times of disaster such as last month’s flooding across the Front Range are crucial times to be on the watch for scams associated with home repairs and with charitable donations.
The Weld County District Attorney’s Office issued an advisory last month warning residents to be on the lookout for potential scammers.